The former President of the HirShabelle administration, Mohamed Abdi Ware, slams Somalia’s Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nour ‘Jama’. Ware, currently the Special Presidential Envoy for Civilian Protection and Stabilization, has accused the Defense Minister of being responsible for the deaths of the soldiers whom al-Shabaab killed in the Gal’ad and Osweyne attacks.
Nairobi, KENYA. By Jama:
“Dear President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, for his safety, for the salvation of the operation against the Shabaab and for your integrity, don’t bring this gentleman, his minions and those responsible for the Coosweyne [Osweyne] and Galcad [Gal’ad] debacles to Maxaas [Mahaas]. It will not end well,” the Special Envoy recently tweeted while talking about Minister Jama.
He accused the Defense Minister of giving ill-conceived orders and bypassing the Somali National Army (SNA) commanders. This allegedly led to soldiers’ deaths, including the killing of the famous Danab force commander Hassan Ture. “The wrong information he gave the President caused Hassan Ture and the Danab army to be defeated in Gal’ad.” Mohamed Ware revealed this in an interview with Ayaanle Hanoolato from Nairobi.
Furthermore, Ware accused the Defense Minister of overwriting the orders of the National Army Commander, General Ibrahim Sheikh Muhyadin Addow, and ‘using’ the President’s name to give orders. He also said that Minister Jama did not listen to the advice he received from the army officers. They suggested that the troops should not deploy into areas at risk of attack due to the inability to get reinforcements.
Risking the lives of Shute and Salad
The Special Envoy also touched upon a recent incident that endangered the lives of Mahad Salad, the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) Director, and Hassan Ali Shute, the Head of the Armed Forces Court.
The two were in a helicopter on their way to Gal’ad as an advance team for Hassan Sheikh’s visit when they received a last-minute warning of al-Shabaab’s presence in the area. Al-Shabaab already seized the town where these high-ranking officials were heading. Reports indicated that this narrow escape from death was a result of “a fractious relationship” between the Defence Minister and the Army Chief.
Mohamed Ware confirmed this. He accused the Defense Minister of providing wrong information that almost killed Mahad Salad and Hassan Ali Shute. “The orders he [Defense Minister] gave put them in danger. Within minutes, they nearly lost their life,” he underlined. “I cannot remain silent. Lives are being gambled,” the Presidential Envoy explained why he entered an open conflict with the powerful Minister.
